In the hospital...
Hannah, not knowing what to do, decided to heed Raymond's words. She was going to tell Penelope that she had adopted her.
As she got into Penelope's room to feed her dinner, Penelope sat up and stared at Hannah.
After starting for some seconds, her lips curled into a smile as she greeted Hannah, "Good evening Aunt".
Hannah was surprised. She had expected Penelope to act cold towards her like how she has been doing for the past two days, but at the same time, she was happy that Penelope was talking to her.
On the other hand, Penelope didn't want to hurt Hannah. She had seen the sad look on Hannah's face when she stepped out of her room earlier and she wasn't happy with it.
She had decided to speak to Hannah to make her happy. Even though Hannah does not become her mommy now, she doesn't mind.
Hannah walked towards Penelope's bed, her heart finally at rest now that Penelope was talking and even smiling at her.
"Food evening Penelope". Hannah greeted back. "How are you feeling?" She asked.
"I'm fine aunty, don't worry about me". Penelope assured.
Penelope tapped the side of the bed, signalling Hannah to come to sit close to her. Hannah sat on the bed slowly.
She was suddenly feeling nervous about what she wanted to tell Penelope, so she turned her head and stared at Penelope's smiling face.
Penelope noticed Hannah's nervousness but mistook it to be Hannah feeling bad.
"Aunty, I'm so hungry", she said trying to lift Hannah's mood, " I need to eat right now!" She whined.
Hannah nodded, maybe what she wanted to say can wait till another time. "Okay"
Hannah fed Penelope till her plate was empty, and tried to put her to sleep.
"Good night aunty". Penelope said as Hannah pulled the blanket over her Savannah nodded in return.
"The doctor said that you can go home tomorrow, so you don't have to stay here anymore". Hannah said and at the mention of home, Penelope's body suddenly turned stiff and her eyes widened.
Hannah noticed her reaction and sat down back on the bed. "What happened Penelope?" She asked nervously.
"I don't want to go back home, aunt!" Penelope blurted out. At this point, she was trembling violently. "I like this place very much, I don't want to go back home!" Her words came out in a rush like she didn't want to go home, but Hannah knew what Penelope was afraid of.
She knew that Penelope was traumatised by that night and she knew that it wouldn't be easy for Penelope to forget it.
Penelope suddenly sat up on the bed, her small fingers wrapped around Hannah's hand and she spoke, "I don't want to go back home, what if that bad man comes back again, he was so scary the last time". Tears were already running down her right cheek and Hannah pulled her into a hug.
Penelope's trembling reduced as Hannah patted her head till she stopped crying and the only sound that came from her was her slight hiccups."Don't worry Penelope, that bad man will not come back, okay?" Penelope nodded vigorously as Hannah continued patting her head. "We will go to a new house and no one will bother us again". Hannah said and when she didn't get any response from Penelope, she pulled away from the hug only for Penelope's body to wobble and Hannah quickly caught her before Penelope could fall to the bed.
Hannah gently laid Penelope on the bed and pulled the blanket over her body, just below her neck, to shield her from the cold.
She stood up from the bed, packed the lunch box and left the room. After a couple of steps, she stopped and spoke, "Any news about them?" Her voice was cold and drooped with anger as she spoke. "No, I didn't get any information about them yet, we are still trying to find them". Said Lucas, who had just come out from the shadows behind Hannah.
Hannah turned back to face him and Lucas bowed his head immediately after he saw her eyes. At that moment, Hannah's eyes were so cold and it was evident that she was angry.
Even though Lucas was a skilled and very strong assassin, he was still wary of Hannah. He knew how strong she was and how deadly she can become when angry. Lucas raised his head, but that seemed to be a bad choice because he saw Hannah walking in his direction. He quickly lowered his head back, waiting for Hannah to wrap her hands around his neck like she always does when she was angry or dissatisfied with his work.
Of course, he had a choice to defend himself and fight her but that will only end up with her killing him and if he doesn't die in her hands, Raymond would surely kill him for fighting with her.
Hannah's cold voice reached his ears, "It has been two days and you still have not found them and you say you are trying?" Hannah's hand reached out and wrapped around his neck and her nails started digging into his flesh instantly. He didn't try to struggle with her, he stood still and the only thing that would make one notice that he was being strangled was his difficulty in breathing.
"Stop that Hannah, don't kill him now. It is hard to find someone as hardworking and loyal as him, don't you think? And besides, we are in the hospital, a public space, we don't want anyone to see what I just saw". Lucas sighed in relief as he heard Raymond's voice. Like many other times, Raymond has come to his rescue once again.
Hannah's hand slid off Lucas' neck and she turned to look at Raymond. "Penelope would be discharged tomorrow". She said calmly like she did not just strangle someone. "Yes, I know, I spoke to the doctor earlier. I have already settled the bills and I have already prepared whatever you would need in the estate, so you guys are good to go tomorrow". Raymond explained. Hannah nodded and glanced back at Lucas for a split second and walked away from them.
"How do you keep getting on her bad side? It seems she hates you most out of all the gang members". He joked. "But I do agree with her though, I came here intending to punish you but since she has already done that, I will let you off".
Lucas' looked at the floor, unable to meet Raymond's eyes. He was also very disappointed in himself. This was the first time he was being berated by Raymond since he started working for him. He had always done a perfect job in the blink of an eye and now that it was important, he couldn't do his job properly.
"I'm sorry boss," he said, "I will do my best to find them". He started. He was not the type to give excuses for his failures, instead, he let himself get scolded.
Raymond eyed the man standing in front of him and sighed. He knew that Lucas was feeling disappointed in himself and that he was not happy about being scolded, but he couldn't help it. Raymond needed to know who those people were. Now that they aren't easy to find, it only shows how powerful they are to be able to hide their tracks from Lucas.
Raymond nodded at Lucas and walked away, leaving Lucas alone in the empty hallway of the hospital.
Minutes later, Lucas, whose head was still lowered, raised his head. He looked around the empty hallway to be sure that no one was watching him and after getting his confirmation, he swiftly disappeared into the shadows, the same way he had come.